This is what I bought and why..........

Do you ever wonder why people buy what they have in their grocery carts when you're in the grocery store?  I do, so I thought I'd do a post of what I bought and why when I popped into Zehrs yesterday morning.

When shopping at Zehrs we get points and they are called PC Optimum points.  Those points you can use to pay your groceries among many things.  My goal when going to the store was the pick up the frozen fruit and the crackers, but then I got a deal emailed to me and I could earn another 3,000 points by spending $30.  With the price of groceries I knew that wasn't going to be difficult.  I have lost my receipt but ended up spending just under $32 and earned I think 4,200 points which is worth $4.20.  Below is what I bought (all prices in Canadian Dollars):

 I bought the potatoes as I find it super simple to give either a baked potato or potato wedges to dh with the salad and main we have on a night.  They were on sale for $2.99 for 10lbs.  The Ranch flavoured croutons were $2.79, I like a handful of those on top of my salad sometimes.  The rice krispie squares were on clearance for under $1 per packet and thought I could add one to dh's lunch everyday for a change.  I generally make one quiche per week, and prefer to use a pre made pie shell.  This package of two was $2.99.  The ground turkey in the photo above was on for $3.00  with the 50% off and the Greek flavoured pork loin was on for $4.50 with the 50% off.  Both went into the freezer for future meals.  We eat very little meat, but I thought the pork loin would go well with salad and potatoes and the turkey would make a veggie shepherd's pie with a root vegetable mash on top of it.

 These are the items I wanted in the first place.  I got four packages of rice crackers at $1 per package and the large package of frozen blueberries for $9.99.  I will say I wanted the mixed fruit blend as I like that the best, but there wasn't any.  I like the no name brand the best for frozen fruit and they are normally $11.99 a package, so saved a couple of dollars there.  I use it on my overnight oats.

Everyday for lunch I have half a package of rice crackers, with the small tub of hummus.  I buy the hummus at Wal-Mart and you get 12 small packages for $6.  Dh also takes half a package of crackers and hummus for part of his lunch as well.  I have worked out the difference of buying regular containers of hummus and the smaller ones, and this is a better deal.  I am not a fan of making my own hummus, it never tastes as good.

While I was checking out, I saw another lady buy some Christmas bags and they were only 54 cents each.  That is a good price, so I decided to go and pick some up.  I bought three of the large bear bags and one large llama bag (there were no more larger bags left).

 I bought a 12 pack of Christmas crackers for $4.14 and two each of the medium bags.

All in all 12 git bags and the box of Christmas crackers came to exactly $12.  Very happy with that deal.  I am now sorted for wrapping paper, gift bags and Christmas cards for next year.

So there you are, why I bought what I did!

You might think I am daft, but I thought this thing was scary

We went to Lowes the other day and this display was outside. Even from a distance I wasn't impressed with that big black thing.

Closer up I didn't feel any better.  Do you think it's supposed to be the grim reaper?  I personally wouldn't go any where near it.

This is more my thing, this display that was parked outside of Sobeys.  Very fall like and not scary!!!

There are a couple of good deals at Sobey's this week.  When you buy this participating Quaker products you get a free 4 litre bag of Natrel milk.  Also when you buy Chapmans frozen yogurt, you get a box of frozen yogurt treats free.  Also have you seen the Jamie Oliver products in store?  I am saving the stamps for them, as I like them; click on the link to see them here.  I want the small bowls as they will be handy.

All about groceries, deals and food prices.......

Had to go into town and run some errands, plus go to my quilt club.

Called into a couple of places on my travels and picked up some grocery items.  I signed up on the Gay Lea website for their newsletter and I got a $2 off coupon for sour cream and a free product coupon for their squirty cream, so sign up as you may get one also.

I called into Sobeys as they had mushrooms on sale for 99 cents per 8oz package.  The sour cream was on sale for $1.99 a tub, so with the $2 coupon it was free.  Not sure if you can see on the package of cereal but there is a mail in offer for a $5 gas car, and that was on sale for $3.97.  Local new potatoes were on for $2.99 for 10 lbs.  The lunch meat was on for $1.99 for 500 grams.

All in all paid $10.92 for that; had $2 in coupon savings and earned 12 Sobey's points.

When I was in Cookstown I called in at Foodland to pick up a couple of things.  I had the free product coupon for the squirty cream so saved $3.99 there.  The Kraft Romano grated cheese was $6.99, but I had a $1 off coupon for that as well.  The liver was $2.36 and I plan on making liver casserole, that's why I bought the mushrooms.  I am a HUGE fan of black licorice and that was $2.49.  Foodland has a great deal on at the moment.  If you print out this coupon when you spend $10 at Foodland you can get a package of kabobs up to $8 for free.  I spent a total of $11.16, and had coupon savings of $11.86.

This is an interesting article:

Canadian consumers cope with dramatic increase in food prices.

"Inside an east-end No Frills around dinner time, customers are lining up with coupons and grocery carts full of discounted items.

But, these days, discount shopping isn’t necessarily enough to keep grocery bills low.
The price of food in Canada is steadily on the rise. The cost of basic staples such as bread, meat and eggs is increasing at a relatively rapid rate.

A recently-released report by Statistics Canada which looked at Canadian food prices between 2007-2012, found prices rose nearly twice the rate of the Consumer Price Index.

“The report showed that prices have increased at a cumulative rate of 19% over the last five years,” said Mark Brown, from the federal agency’s economic analysis division."

The rest of the article is here.  No wonder we are all struggling.

Couple of good deals this week.

If you have a Rexall store near you they have Swiffer products on sale for $3.99 this week.  Both the dry and wet clothes and the dusters.  If you got your Procter and Gamble coupons, there are $1.50 coupons that you can use.  They have a three day special on Tide laundry detergent for $4.99 and again there were P & G coupons for $2 off.

At No Frills I saw and bought a 500 gram bag of shredded Silani Cheddar Cheese for $3.  I did not see this advertised in the flyer. So check your store as that is a super deal.  I may go back later in the week and get some more, as it freezes no problem.  Also in this weeks paper was the Smart Source insert and there was a $1 coupon of 2 packages of Christie Cookies, and No Frills have them on for 2 packages for $3; with the coupon making them $1 a package.

I picked up the rental car on Saturday, although I am not paying for it.  It's a Ford Fusion and is a very nice car. Still want my Betsy back though and fingers crossed she comes back to me all mended and happy!!

Will be hibernating this week as it's going to be stinking hot and humid.

By the way anyone have any ideas on how to stop a male Cardinal from constantly flyer into our window attacking his reflection?  It's driving me potty!

Light at the end of the tunnel?

I am sick of being sick, I mean how much longer do I need to feel like death warmed over?  I am still very congested, but it's the way I have no energy that's flipping well annoying.  I must be feeling a bit better though, as I have started to "do" my Swagbucks again.  Still haven't gone through my inbox for my email though, as my poor brain is still fuzzy.

One thing though is I have caught up on my reading and am ploughing through my May books.  I have been in the house again all week, but am planning on going out today to town to the bank and then to Sobey's.  They have got Jane's frozen fish on sale for $8.99 and I have $2 coupons so will buy a couple of packages.  They have a salmon burger that I would like to try.

I am hoping to clean the BBQ this weekend ready for Spring, whenever Spring decides to arrive.  Mind you the snow we got on Wednesday night makes me think Winter is still around!!  We have had the fire on the past couple of days and of course we still have the heating on.

I hope to be back on form soon, as the outside is calling me to do some jobs!!!